Abstract:
Legislation passed by the North Carolina General Assembly places the state in the forefront in the fight against air pollution. The law, popularly called the \"Clean Smokestacks Bill,\" requires power plants to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from 245,000 tons in 1998 to 56,000 tons by 2009. Reductions in sulfur dioxide are also required. Power suppliers, including Duke Energy and Progress Energy, support the legislation.